(The photo above was paper-clipped to the front of M-1′s memo to tournament participants that drug testing will be mandatory for the GP. Subtle.)

When Dana White’s favorite Crazy Russian, Vadim Finkelstein speaks, the MMA world listens, mostly just because he usually has a lot of bizarre demands to make.In a recent interview the head of M-1 did with Russian sports news site Sports.ru, Finkelstein touched on a lot of topics including the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, Fedor’s contract status and his recent statement he made about mandatory drug testing in the later rounds of the tournament.

Check out what Vad-Fink had to say after the jump.

On who conceived the SFHWGP:

"The idea for the tournament was Strikeforce president Scott Coker’s, and we’ve been discussing it for about six months. Simply, it has long been just talk, and we could not officially confirm that it would happen."

On whether or not M-1′s recent statements that they want stringent steroid testing done in the second and third rounds of the tournament were directed at Ubereem:

"We did not care what fighter they wanted us to fight. All this animosity with Overeem’s camp is more inflated than it is in reality. The only thing I said and will say, is that Fedor is clean. He trains in the mountains to improve endurance and from the list of eight fighters in the tournament, two have been caught for doping – Barnett and Silva. And surely some of the others do it as well to gain an advantage."

On whether or not they are pushing for Olympic-style drug testing:

"Yes. But it’s not implemented by some commissions. We have never shied away from a particular battle, I just wanted for Fedor’s opponents to be professional fighters, not chemists. Today doping can significantly add speed and endurance. We just want to make sure that all competitors in the Grand Prix and, hence all of Fedor’s potential opponents to play by the rules."

On when the subsequent rounds of the GP will take place and who he sees advancing:

"It’s very hard to predict the outcomes of the tournament bouts and we don’t really have set dates for the second round and the final, but if all goes well, in February we’ll be looking at semi-finals in the summer and perhaps a fall finale. Everything in general should take eight to nine months."

"Unfortunately, they’re trying to do everything to stop us. The fact that we announced a conference call, and Dana White decided that the same day he would hold a press conference in New York forcing reporters to choose which one is more important proves his intentions."

On how it will be decided who will step in should a contestant be forced out of the tourney due to injury:

"If the winner can not continue to participate in the tournament, a special commission will decide who will replace him. The decision not be made by me or Scott Coker, so any impact the choice makes on the tournament will not be our fault. In the U.S., in general, every commission in every city we’re looking at holding an event wants to implement different rules for the tournament than we envisioned [like the five-round bouts we planned to have]. They all want to use the rules of the Nevada Commission and they decide everything. I say, very little that can change. I do not like what the U.S. fighters are often strewn with blood and they rarely are stood up by the referees, but in my opinion, in general, very few people care about that. As far as the decision on substitutions, we don’t even know the criteria on which they will make their decisions based on will be. This issue will be addressed in the near future."

On whether or not some of the participants might threaten to pull out of the tournament as a bargaining chip for negotiating a bigger payday:

"I think not. Terms of the tournament are determined, the grid is painted. Although, if Fedor gets a berth in the semi-finals, I plan on insisting on thorough drug testing. You know, I experienced a lot of problems when there was the issue with Josh Barnett and Affliction. Fedor and I do not want this situation again. I lost a lot of money in advertising because of that situation, which was a big problem when I promised the sponsors that the show would be on television. This time we made sure that all the men knew and were aware of the fact that there will be stringent drug testing."

On why it took so long for M-1 and Fedor to come to terms with SF:

"The main problems with the negotiations with Fedor and Strikeforce which took so long to sort out were all of the small details. Everything had to be looked at. When you send a 50-page contract, inevitably there are questions, so it takes time. Besides the TV channel Showtime executives involved in the negotiations. This was necessary, but also delayed the process. Other times to discuss some detail, take weeks. Played a major role, Ken Hershman of Showtime, without him at all, this deal would not happen. Managed, by the way, agree on the show Americans show the M-1 Challenge, this year they will broadcast some amount of tournaments. Generally a lot of time was spent on this contract, always some problems had arisen, much to alter. We say that Fedor would compete in Sambo, yet we were sent the documents that said he couldn’t. I had to redo it all over again, until my lawyers read through it all, translated from English … Furthermore, I under their laws do not have the right to disclose any information about the negotiations. I can not announce the signing of the contract until the paper is signed. I understand that the fans are angry, but we weren’t in a restaurant or tavern sitting leisurely discussing the future of fighters. It’s business. For example, I already knew about the Fedor – Silva fight about six weeks ago, but I couldn’t officially talk about it until it was announced by Strikeforce."

On whether or not Fedor will fight for Stikeforce again this year if he loses prior to the tournament final:

"First of all, we have a contract for four fights if we agree to the opponents. There is a clause in it that states that Fedor could stay for additional fights if he doesn’t find another promotion to sign with after the contract expires. In general, I want to reassure fans, though that Fedor says that he is feeling great, he’s full of energy and is in optimal shape…This is a new contract for four fights, more even three, with right of renewal for one.

Cagepotato Comments

Showing 1-25 of comments

i think he doesnt want testing for the first round because Silva has a disease (not hypergonadism) that requires him to get shots of testosterone or some thing like that.

DangadaDang- January 19, 2011 at 7:35 pm

Little do any of Fedor's opponents know that all you have to do is mention the phrase "Twig and plums" around Fedor and he will have to find an excuse to leave the fight.

Perma- January 19, 2011 at 6:20 pm

At this point I'm kinda rooting for Bigfoot to KO the mad Russian Gravy Train.

Then we won't be in a spot where Fedor holds the GP hostage negations for semi-finals to start.

Also interesting to note is his contract is 4 fights well 3 of those will be in the GP and he will be free to sign else where.

jzen555- January 19, 2011 at 5:40 pm

The most retarded comments are always found on this site, grow up dicksmacks!

MediocreThreat- January 19, 2011 at 1:55 pm

I bet they were totally in a restaurant or tavern sitting leisurely discussing the future of fighters

DARKHORSE06- January 19, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Good for old Finklestein to call for olympic style drug testing. Im fucking sick of looking at Overeem's swollen head and hearing Barnett claim he did nothing wrong.

ccman- January 19, 2011 at 1:11 pm

A. Welcome to reason 4 million and 2 why this will collapse.
B. A russian demanding testing for roids is like manson demanding a pysch test for release.
C. So if m-1 doesn't like an opponent in the tourn then what? Oh yeah... find a can.
What does m-1 getting showtime airtime for their bullshit have to do with fedor? Oh yeah, he is an [OWNER OF M-1.
D. FEDOR IS A CLOWN LIKE THE REST OF THESE CLOWNS AND COKER IS THEIR BITCH.

Punching Homer- January 19, 2011 at 12:59 pm

Overeem is looking at the picture and thinking that Fedor is bringing lunch.

KINGMADE- January 19, 2011 at 12:53 pm

It is nice to see that Chandella finally found a man.

KINGMADE- January 19, 2011 at 12:50 pm

Overeem looks like the much larger fighter in the above photo. The size difference really stands out when Fedor has him in full mount.

Lysol- January 19, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Katie has some big ass tittays

Kimbos Bread- January 19, 2011 at 12:13 pm

Fedor's beating a dead horse. Ask Overeem.

DeadPull- January 19, 2011 at 11:37 am

"First of all, we have a contract for four fights if we agree to the opponents."
If we agree to the opponents, what bullshit. Just fight assholes.

El Guapo- January 19, 2011 at 11:17 am

I had sex with Katie, too, mhen.

Yeeaaaahhhhh, this tourney ain't ha'enning. I tried my bessasiss to give them the benefit of the doubt, even went as far as saying it trumped the UFC's present "interim" heavyweight sitchyation. And for that... I am sorry. Samson Simson, I was wrong.

ReX13- January 19, 2011 at 10:47 am

Well played, Douchey.

nickyroose- January 19, 2011 at 10:43 am

@Lysol, you had sex with Katie

Also there were many big-time banned substance problems, but those are often the result of large nations with a huge amount of political bickering and horseshit and everything else. I am the first person against warrantless searches and am well-aware of the stupid, nepotistic nature of the athletic commissions but the idea of Olympic testing, (test weeks before, immediately before and after) the fights is just solid practice.

Lysol- January 19, 2011 at 10:39 am

@nickyroose

Agree, and even then, wasn't there recently some scandal involving Olympic athletes admitting to using steroids and having to return their medals? There's always a way to cheat the system.

BC_Bud- January 19, 2011 at 10:33 am

Damn it Douchey McDoucherton .....you beat me to it :P

nickyroose- January 19, 2011 at 10:29 am

Smitty your perceptions of the American Justice system are laughably misinformed but I agree with the sentiment on the roids. Why in the hell wouldn't you want to agree to Olympic Style testing?

What is your objection to it other than, you know, you use Steroids.

provrorsbarn- January 19, 2011 at 10:28 am

Thats the biggest horse Ive ever seen since Cyborg....oohh snaap

Smitty- January 19, 2011 at 9:31 am

Douchey McDoucherton for comment of the week!

LOKI- January 19, 2011 at 9:17 am

This picture is a metaphore for life.

Lysol- January 19, 2011 at 9:12 am

Holy shit does Douchey McDoucherton win at commenting on this article.

Lysol- January 19, 2011 at 9:07 am

Fedor trains in the mountains of Russia? Nice try, but I've seen Rocky IV.

Sniffer-Piffits- January 19, 2011 at 9:04 am

Does olympic testing pick up Vodka or just PED's?

Douchey McDoucherton- January 19, 2011 at 8:59 am

“Hello, ladies, look at your champ, now back to me, now back at your champ, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped fighting cans and switched to fighters, he could fight like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re in Mother Russia with the man your champ could fight like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s a contract with two names that you would love to fight each other. Look again, the contract is now shit. Anything isn't possible when your man fights for Strikeforce and not M-1. I’m on a horse.”

Sudos KFC- January 19, 2011 at 8:49 am

Sniff...Dana White being a big meanie sniff. How dare he make it harder on his competition! What a jerk.

Viva Hate- January 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

Pacquiao vs Mayweather here we come.

Smitty- January 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

I am so sick of cheating fighters. This country is so soft regarding punishing offenders of any kind. A person can get less jail time for raping a child than a grown woman. Murderers have a chance of getting out of jail, while the victims families are just forced to deal with it. If a person breaks the rules, and decides to cheat by using steroids, there should be a lifetime ban from the sport. Make examples out of some of these idiots if you truly want to bring an end to the offense!

knucklesamitch- January 19, 2011 at 8:44 am

it begins...

RSparrow- January 19, 2011 at 8:41 am

That horse wouldn't last 15 minutes at that arena

matt- January 19, 2011 at 8:41 am

If he wants it in the semis and finals, why wouldn't he want it for the opening round? He is fighting Big Foot Silva who has tested positive for steroids before so I do not understand why he would only want testing for the semis and finals.

GILL-uh-TEEN- January 19, 2011 at 8:37 am

Fedor should ride horseback into the ring. Just not on Seth Petruzelli...

Admiral Allah Ackbar- January 19, 2011 at 8:32 am

Words that come out of Vadim's mouth are like a woman's ass: looks nice, but everything that comes out reeks of sh*t.